VHF/UHF Antenna?

[KOJ]

When I bought my house, it already had an antenna mounted to the roof. But one of the previous owners cut the cable (twinlead) and now just dangles 15 feet up in the air so I cannot test it to answer my own question below. I was going to take the antenna down but after doing some research on HDTV, I might just keep it to get OTA HDTV reception when I finally make the plunge.

Question is, how do I know if it is UHF, VHF or both (Something I believe I have to worry about with digital)? Seems like it has a rotor thingy on it too but I'm not 100% sure--I kind of recognize it from when we had one growing up. I also assume that if the antenna is usable I can somehow convert the twin lead to coax?

Thanks again! You guys have been very helpful. :overclap:

[kevinw]

Piece of cake Using a balun and some RG6 cable you can drop a new line.
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5F001%5F003%5F001&product%5Fid=15%2D1230

I would not bet that the rotor works, but you may get lucky

[Ratman]

Here's an example of a VHF/UHF combination antenna:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5F001%5F002%5F000&product%5Fid=15%2D2152

Here's one example of a UHF only antenna:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5F001%5F002%5F000&product%5Fid=15%2D2160

Most antennas have a set of terminals (where the twinlead connects). All you should need is a balun to convert from 300 Ohm to 75 Ohm and run your coax (use RG6). Here's a balun:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5F001%5F003%5F001&product%5Fid=15%2D1230

[KOJ]

Thanks guys for the reply. I guess I have a little project ahead of me when the snow melts and the ground dries up. The rotor not working is probably not a big deal. I should be able to get most of the digital channels I need from Philly, expect for FOX--which I can get through comcast. Odd that FOX doesn't have a Philly affiliate unless I missed it on antennaweb.org.

Thanks for the links. Judging by the pictures, it looks like I have a VHF/UHF antenna. Any worrries about lighting strikes? I don't think the thing is grounded either--ground wire appears to have been cut too...argh...what were the previous owners thinking. One last question, can I really hookup my outdoor antenna to my stereo receiver and get FM reception? My POS Terk powered antenna does nothing for me.

Thanks again for responding!

[Ratman]

Fox does broadcast from Philly. UHF digital channel 42 (29-1).

How long has the antenna not been gounded properly? Expecting any storms soon? :)

Anyway, when you reconnect/replace your antenna. Ground it.

Yes, you can connect the antenna for your receiver for FM. FM is carried between VHF channels 6 and 7.

Terk antennas are overpriced junk.

[KOJ]

Cool. For some reason Fox (digital) didn't come up when I did the query at antennaweb. So I really don't need the rotor. Just point the antenna toward Philly and I am all set (hopefully). Once I get the antenna reconnected, I'll properly ground it.

Thanks!

[Ratman]

It may not come in depending on where you live.
Trenton is probably the 'cutoff'. North and northwest may be problematic.

New Jersey isn't that small.

Why not add your town/city to your profile?

[KOJ]

Why not add your town/city to your profile?

I don't want women stalking me. :D

[Ratman]

Ha-ha... I meant NE not NW!

And, you're NE.

Anyway, WTXF is lower power. Also, their radiation pattern (from what I understand) is not good towards your direction from Philly.

So... if you get all of the other channels okay and really want WTXF, I'd suggest a new UHF antenna (all Philly digitals are UHF). Get a separate FM antenna if necessary.

IMO... if you have to go on the roof anyway, you may as well do it right.

[k-2inc]

go to www.antennaweb.org as a starter. it will help get you in the ball park as far as what type of an antenna you need. Most of the digital HD channels are in the UHF band and can use a smaller antenna. a 300/75 ohm transformer will convert to RG6 cable impedance.

[mjones73]

go to www.antennaweb.org as a starter. it will help get you in the ball park as far as what type of an antenna you need. Most of the digital HD channels are in the UHF band and can use a smaller antenna. a 300/75 ohm transformer will convert to RG6 cable impedance.

He does need a high gain antenna to attempt to get FOX, a smaller UHF antenna probably wouldn't do the trick...

[KOJ]

I started this post and haven't checked back...been too busy with work I guess. The exsiting antenna on my house is huge so it's not like my neighbors will start complaining if I install a decent sized UHF antenna. Although my wife may not like it, she wanted the antenna down the day we moved in 2 years ago.

Thanks guys for the info, I really appreciate the input. However, I'll have to wait until all this snow melts before I can really do anything on the roof.

[kingkongva]

hey guys, need help, got an old radioshack vhf/uhf (50" boom)antenna. currently i am living about 17 miles from all stations in wash dc area. checked with antennaweb for direction and went to install the antenna on my second level deck of the townhouse(to icy to go to the roof) with 4 ft pole . connected to my regular tv(plasma is coming in a few days), all vhf/uhf channels reception is not all that good. if my signal is not good now, does that mean that hdtv signal will be just as bad? my new pioneer plasma will come in 2 days. just trying to set the thing up early to enjoy my new toys.

[Splicer]

If you went by antennaweb's #'s, and I am NOT 100% sure of this, the antenna may need to be moved for the analog signal to come in, and then when you get your plasma use antennaweb's #'s again. It should work then I would think.

[Ratman]

1) be sure the antenna is aimed in the proper direction.
2) be sure to have a 'line of sight' to the broadcast towers


How old is the antenna?
Are you using 'good' coax and connectors?
Do you really need the VHF portion of the antenna?
Does you new HD set have a 'built in' ATSC (digital) receiver?

IMO... a new UHF only antenna will be less obtrusive and perhaps provide a bit of added performance.

[kingkongva]

antenna is from radioshack and is about 9 yrs old. i used the low loss cable rg-6 from radio shack. i do get channel 20 uhf and vhf channel but not alll that good. scale from 1 -10, i give it a 5. pictures have lines. from my house all local channels came from the east (for both analog and hdtv). i could move antenna to the roof but talking to a guy from BB, they said that i could recieve hdtv signal even from an indoor rabbit ear type of antenna. so i figues that this antenna erecting from outside should be sufficent but i guess i am wrong. does age of antenna matter? ref the vhf signal, i want it to deliver to my other analog sets. my new pionner 4345 will have a tuner that can pick up both signal. although my antenna is not on the roof, but it is about 24ft from the ground on my deck. nothing is obstrcting except for a pine tree 100 ft away.thx

[Ratman]

Well... if you intend to feed other TV's (for analog) with this antenna, then you've got some work to do!

Yeah... a nine year old antenna should be okay (unless you have extensive corrosion).

And... a big pine tree could cause a problem, but IMO, more so with digital.

The true test (and probably your priority) will be to see what happens when you get your new TV/receiver and see what you can get digitally.

If all works well, then you may have to seek an alternative for the other TV's.

But... you may have to go up on the roof. Higher is usually always better.

You may also consider trying a pre-amp on the antenna:
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F003%5F001%5F003%5F001&product%5Fid=15%2D2507

[kingkongva]

yup, got 1 of those yesterday. it help but still not good. i have yet to ground the antenna. could that be a problem? i think the solution is on the roof. i will wait til the tv get here and try it out first then prob will get some1 to install on roof. i could to it myself but my better will kill me for it. thx ratman

[Ratman]

No... grounding is not causing a reception issue. But, if it remains outdoors, I would add a ground.

A possible benefit of a roof mount would be that with a rotator, you may even be able to get some Baltimore stations. Just a thought...

[jedivader]

I recently purchased a house that already had a rooftop antenna, sort of like this: http://www.circuitcity.com/IMAGE/product/detail/trk/EC.TRK.TV36.JPG

I get better reception from indoor rabbit ears. Do antennas like these go bad?

Also, I could get no HD signal from the rooftop antenna but could get a pretty strong one from the indoor antenna (still cut in and out once and a while). I just don't want to have rabbit ears sitting around. I was able to pick-up channels 4, 7, and 9. . I am just outside of Washington, DC.

Looking at:
http://www.circuitcity.com/IMAGE/product/detail/trk/EC.TRK.TV32.JPG

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/6830/6830968_rc.jpg (ant301)

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/02/66/16/85/0002661685050_215X215.jpg
(gemdtv1)

If I have to upgrade my antenna, I'll be looking for the cheapest antenna to get the job done.

[Ratman]

The existing should work adequately. They don't go 'bad' per se.

Check the connectors (for corrosion), balun, wiring/cabling and positioning (aiming).

[jedivader]

So even though the antenna was made way before HD signals, it should still pick them up? To get HD signals you don't have to have a HD antenna?

[mjones73]

So even though the antenna was made way before HD signals, it should still pick them up? To get HD signals you don't have to have a HD antenna?

There is no seperate broadcast frequency range for digital OTA broadcasts, the digital television broadcasts going out today use the same UHF and VHF frequency ranges as the current analog channels therefore the same antennas will receive both digital and analog broadcasts. Any claims stating an antenna is made specially for HD broadcasts is pure marketing BS...

You do need to pay attention to the fact if your channels are being broadcast locally via UHF, VHF, or both and select your antenna accordingly.

[jedivader]

Thanks............much appreciated!

[videobruce]

Ratman; what's with you and RipOff Shack? If one is doing a search, there are far better choices out there than that place. Twenty years ago I might agree, but their quality has gone down the tubes with most of the stuff from China.
They have to pay for the corporate tower with the subway to the parking lot somehow (unless they moved)!
Worked there 15 years ago and I saw the quality slipping then. Where is Lafayette and Allied Radio Shack when you need them now...........

[Ratman]

Lay off...

The recommendations I provide are based on my and others personal experiences.

Another reason to use R/S is the return policy. If it doesn't work, you drive a few miles and you return it.

[videobruce]

If it doesn't work, you drive a few miles and you return it. and get a real antenna.

[57U]

Rather than argue antennae in several different threads (and hijack those threads), I would like to suggest that a thread be started to discuss "the best antenna".

"Hijack posts" will be deleted.